Environmental Public Health Journal 2017 | BCIT Institutional Repository

Environmental Public Health Journal 2017

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Potential risks and user preferences of helmet-sharing program provided by Vancouver’s Mobi bike-share program
Background: Mobi is a bike-sharing program in Vancouver, BC that provides helmets for use with each bike. There is little research documenting risks associated with helmet-sharing, but an evidence review has shown that there is the potential for transmission of diseases that are known or presumed to be transmitted via fomites. This study attempted to ascertain public opinion of helmet-sharing and whether concern over the cleanliness of shared helmets affected likelihood of wearing them. Method: A survey was conducted to determine if there is a relationship between concern with helmet cleanliness and likelihood of wearing shared helmets. The researcher conducted surveys in-person at randomly chosen Mobi docking stations. An online (SurveyMonkey) survey was also distributed using Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and email. Results: Chi-square tests performed using NCSS determined that there was a statistically significant association between helmet use on personal bikes and use of Mobi helmet when riding Mobi bikes (p=0.00029). There was also an association between whether users found cleanliness the most important factor in their decision to wear the Mobi helmet (of cleanliness, aesthetics, legal requirement, safety and comfort/fit) and likelihood of wearing the Mobi helmet (p=0.02038). There was no association found between level of concern for cleanliness of the helmet and likelihood of wearing it (p=0.54995). Conclusions: Based on the results, there is an association between concern with the cleanliness of shared helmets are and how likely users are to wear them. Users that were most concerned about safety were more likely to use the Mobi helmet during every ride. Those that were most concerned about cleanliness were least likely to wear the Mobi helmet. However, this study also concluded that some users chose not to wear the provided helmets for reasons other than concern for cleanliness. Further research is required to determine how this will affect the health and safety of Mobi Bike users., Peer-reviewed article, Published., Project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Technology in Environmental Health, British Columbia Institute of Technology, 2017., Peer reviewed, Helmet, Bike-share, Helmet-share, Bicycle
The practicality of using a smartphone as a sound level meter
Background & Purpose: Sound is of vital importance for human life, it is one of the main forms of communication between people. However, sound that is a nuisance to others is considered noise. Too much noise can be disruptive and affects one’s enjoyment of life and can lead to ill health effects. In some municipalities, bylaw officers or Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) are tasked with enforcing the local noise bylaw. “Sound Level Meters” (SLM) are certified instruments enforcement officers use to accurately measure sound. However, accurate SLMs can be bulky and expensive. In this technological society, almost everyone has some type of smart phone capable of installing applications (apps) that mimic SLMs. The purpose of this project was to determine the accuracy of phone SLM apps compared to real SLMs. Method: Three Android & three iOS SLM apps were downloaded from the internet and installed on two Android and one iOS smartphone. The sound source was computer generated white noise. A type 1 SLM was used to set the white noise to three different sound levels, 80db, 65 dB, & 50 dB. Each Android and iOS smartphone measured the white noise at each sound level utilizing the three different SLM apps. Results were analyzed between the different apps and smartphones. The MANOVA and ANOVA statistical tests were used to analyze the data. Results: All MANOVA and ANOVA tests showed statistically differences between the apps and the SLM (p=0.00000). The power for all MANOVA tests was 100%, therefore there is confidence that the findings reflect the truth and there really is a difference between the different applications, smartphones, and interaction of applications and smartphones. Therefore, the smartphone/app combination tested were not able to replicate the noise level as measured by the SLM. Conclusion: It can be concluded that any individual Android SLM application can have significantly different mean decibels values across different Android smartphones. Different Android smartphones can also have significantly different means decibels across different Android applications. Results for iOS smartphones can only indicate significant mean decibels across the different SLM applications. Therefore, it is not recommended that smartphones with sound level measuring apps be used in place of SLMs., Peer-reviewed article, Published., Project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Technology in Environmental Health, British Columbia Institute of Technology, 2017., Peer reviewed, Sound Level Meter, Smartphone, Applications, Android, iOS
Presence of nicotine in marketed nicotine-free e-liquids for electronic cigarettes
Background and Purpose: Ever since the electronic cigarette made its debut in the market, it has been garnering great popularity due to public perception of it being a safer alternative to conventional cigarette. As a result, aside from being utilized in tobacco cessation programs, susceptible populations such as teenagers are slowly adopting this new trend of recreational E-cigarette smoking or “vaping”. The literature review conducted suggests that not only do different E-cigarette models exhibit different delivery efficiencies regarding percentage nicotine vapourization, there are discrepancies between what is labelled by the manufacturer and the actual nicotine content in the electronic cigarette liquids. This has serious public health implications because nicotine is the active chemical component in inducing addiction in cigarettes. As a result, recreational electronic cigarette users such as teenagers, may unknowingly become exposed to improper levels of nicotine, leading to a higher probability of nicotine dependence or switching to conventional smoking. The purpose of this study was to determine whether presence of nicotine can be detected in marketed nicotine-free electronic cigarette liquids. Methods: The nicotine content in electronic cigarette liquids was isolated and determined using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. Descriptive and inferential statistics was conducted using NCSS11 to see if there was a statistically significant difference between the labelled concentration of 0 mg in marketed “nicotine-free” electronic cigarettes from two popular brands, VapeWild and Mt Baker Vapour, to determine whether one brand has better quality control for nicotine content in nicotine-free E-liquids compared to the other brand. Results: Based on the analyzed E-liquid samples from the two brands, no nicotine was detected. Conclusion: E-cigarettes can be putatively considered as a safer alternative to conventional cigarettes because nicotine levels can be pre-determined and limited with a high degree of confidence., Peer-reviewed article, Published., Project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Technology in Environmental Health, British Columbia Institute of Technology, 2017., Peer reviewed, Electronic cigarette, E-liquids, Nicotine, Accurate labelling, Addiction
The public health impact of infection control, sterilization and regulation in tattooing
Background: The purpose of this study was to look at infection control and sterilization procedures in relation to invasive services performed at Personal Service Establishments (PSEs) in British Columbia. The objective was to collect data on the opinions of regulation and infection control practices of persons currently working in the industries of: tattooing, micro-blading and permanent make-up. Method: Data was collected from a survey that was created and distributed online through Survey Monkey. A list of 261 personal service establishments throughout Vancouver Costal Health and Fraser Health were called and/or e-mailed and asked to participate in the online survey. Results and Analyses: Among the 261 PSEs contacted, 30 agreed to participate. They were asked about the regulation of their profession and their standard practices for infection control and sterilization. 3% of the respondent’s primary service was permanent make-up, 7% micro-blading, 7% piercing and 80% was tattooing. The majority of opinions on regulation were divided where 50% felt the industry was under regulated and 40% felt it was adequately regulated. 90% of the respondents agreed that formal training should be required before being allowed to tattoo and 43% of the respondents also agreed that the use of an autoclave should require certification. For infection control/sterilization procedures 100% of shops use one-time use (disposable) needles and ink caps, 80% use disposable tubes, 93% use cord and machine covers and 90% use disposable razors. 63% of the respondents do not use autoclaves because they use disposable items and therefore do not need to clean and sterilize re-usable equipment. The data compared in chi-squared analysis, age and formal training had a p-value of 0.01460 which indicates that there is an association between age and the belief that formal training should be required for those who practice tattooing. Those under 40 were more likely to indicate that formal training should be required. Conclusion: With a low response rate for micro-blading and permanent make-up it is not feasible to compare or contrast opinions and/or practices between the three services. The tattooing industry had the highest response rate and can be looked at in more detail. The information collected on tattooing could be used to develop a course to improve the safety of PSE’s. EHO knowledge in inspecting food service establishments is very high as a system has been put into place that ensures effective inspections. As well, the FOODSAFE program teaches safe practices to those who work in the kitchen. The growing popularity of PSEs now gives EHOs the opportunity to focus on creating safe work environments through the implementation of a training course and possibly altering the way inspections of each different PSE are conducted. Results of this study, along with other Canadian published data, should be considered when developing standardized training and education in the industry where invasive procedures are used., Peer-reviewed article, Published., Project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Technology in Environmental Health, British Columbia Institute of Technology, 2017., Peer reviewed, Tattoo, Tattooing, Tattoos, Sterilization, Infection control, Regulations

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